New Hampshire senators gave initial approval to legalizing two casinos, giving another shot at life to a perennial Granite State issue. WMUR's Stephanie Woods reports.

New Hampshire senators gave initial approval to legalizing two casinos, giving another shot at life to a perennial Granite State issue. WMUR's Stephanie Woods reports.

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Updated: 11:14 PM EDT Mar 12, 2015

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WEBVTT LOST IN THE LEGISLATION HAS LOST IN THE PAST. TOM: CASINO ADVOCATES SAY THE TWO LICENSES IN THIS BILL GIVE THEM A BETTER HAND TO PLAY, SO TO SPEAK, AND OUR INSTEAD OF NAY WOODS IS LIVE IN CONCORD TONIGHT WITH THAT STORY. STEPHANIE? REPORTER: THAT'S RIGHT. STATE SENATORS VOTED FOR A BILL TODAY THAT WOULD BRING THE FIRST TWO CASINOS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. SOME SAY THOSE CASINOS WOULD BRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATE, WHILE OTHERS SAY THAT REVENUE IS A BIG GAMBLE. LOOK, CASINO GAMBLING IS THE CRACK COCAINE OF LEGISLATIVE FUNDING. IT'S UNRELIABLE, IT UNPREDICTABLE, IT ERRATIC AND STATES ONCE THEY GET HOOKED NEVER GIVE IT UP. IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE AND DESTROYS OUR TOURISM BRAND. IT WILL HURT ALL OF OUR OTHER ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AROUND THE STATE. IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA. REPORTER: BILL 113 IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BRINGING TWO CASINOS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, PASSING THE SENATE ON THURSDAY, 13-11. BUT STEVE OF CASINO-FREE NEW HAMPSHIRE IS BETTING ON THE HOUSE. WHEN WE WENT INTO THE BATTLE IN THE SENATE WE ALWAYS THOUGHT WOULD IT BE A LARGE MARGIN. THE FACT THAT IT PASSED BY ONE VOTE IS A GOOD SIGN FOR US, WE THINK WHEN WE GET TO THE HOUSE WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'LL BEAT THERE IT. IT'S A BAD IDEA FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE. REPORTER: THE BILL'S SPONSOR SAYS THE TWO PROPOSED CASINOS WITH TABLE GAMES AND SLOT MACHINES WILL GENERATE A COLLECTIVE $120 MILLION FROM INITIAL LICENSE FEES. $25.2 MILLION A YEAR WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BACK TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THAT'S EVERY CITY AND TOWN IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. REPORTER: AS FOR CRITICISM THAT CASINOS WILL BRING CRIME TO GRANITE STATE AND FUEL ADDICTION? THE BILL ALLOCATES A PORTION OF REVENUE TO SUPPORT ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS. I THINK THAT'S AN ESSENTIAL. ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS. REPORTER: IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE TRADITIONALLY TOUGHER HOUSE WILL GO FOR THE CASINOS. I THINK IT GIVES EVERY AREA OF THE STATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BILL, AND STIMULATE THEIR ECONOMY. REPORTER: GOVERNOR HASSAN HAS EXPRESSED IMPORTANT FOR A SINGLE CASINO IN THE STATE AS A WAY TO BOOST STATE REVENUE, BUT HAS NOT SAID WHETHER OR NOT SHE WOULD SIGN A BILL FOR TWO.

Senate passes bill to license casinos

New Hampshire senators gave initial approval to legalizing two casinos, giving another shot at life to a perennial Granite State issue. WMUR's Stephanie Woods reports.